According to a recent study, the Arctic is projected to experience summer days with minimal sea ice in the next ten years as a result of increased emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

Scientists predict that the transformation of the Arctic during the summer months would change its distinct ecosystem, currently inhabited by polar bears, seals, and walruses, from a predominantly icy landscape to one dominated by open blue waters. This is based on the measurement of less than 1m sq km of ice, which would result in a mostly water-covered Arctic region.

New research, reported in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, indicates that the Arctic may experience its first day without ice more than a decade sooner than previously predicted.

The writers stated that the likelihood of September being completely free of ice would occur between the years 2035 and 2067. The specific year within this range is influenced by the rate at which the world decreases its usage of fossil fuels.

By the end of the century, there is a possibility of experiencing ice-free conditions from May to January with high emissions, and from August to October with low emissions.

According to Alexandra Jahn, a lead author of the study and associate professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Arctic could undergo a dramatic change from a summer Arctic covered in white ice to a blue Arctic. Even if it is inevitable for the ice to melt, it is still crucial to limit our emissions in order to prevent prolonged periods of ice-free conditions.

She stated that there is potential to resolve this problem.

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“Comparatively, the process of building the Greenland ice sheet took thousands of years, while melting all Arctic sea ice and subsequently finding a way to extract CO2 would be significantly faster.”₂

In the future, if we can reduce global warming to reverse its effects, the sea ice will return within a decade, according to Jahn.

The melting of Arctic habitat not only poses a threat to its wildlife, but also impacts the coastal residents. This is because the sea ice provides a protective barrier against ocean waves, and without it, the waves will be more powerful and destructive, leading to increased erosion.

Source: theguardian.com